Hello and welcome to this meditation on the seasons of the breath.
This is adapted from a book called The Artist's Rule by Christine Vaulter's Paintner.
The hour of dawn is associated with the direction of the east and with springtime.
It's the hour of awakening,
Blossoming and newness.
It's the time of day when everything seems possible.
When we breathe in our first breath of the day,
We awaken to ourselves once more.
The moment of inhalation is the moment of in-breathing the gift of life.
Moon is associated with the season of summer and the direction of the south in the northern hemisphere and the north in the southern hemisphere.
It is the hour of the fullness and height of the sun's illumination.
Mid-day is when we're fully immersed in our work in the world.
The moment between inhaling and exhaling offers us an experience of this fullness within us.
The hour of dusk is associated with autumn and the direction of the west.
Dusk is the time when we become aware of our limitations and endings.
We're aware of the ebb and flow of our lives.
When exhaling,
We can experience the release and surrender of autumn and evening.
We're perhaps reminded of the coming of our last breath.
The hour of dark or night is associated with the season of winter and the direction of north in the northern hemisphere and south in the southern hemisphere.
It's the hour of stillness and rest,
Of moving inward as the days shorten.
Dark is the time when we're invited into deepest contemplation and uncertainty of everything that seemed so assured in the light of day.
The moment between exhaling and inhaling is a place of vulnerability,
Of not knowing when the breath will come.
It's a time of resting in stillness.
As we come to this breath meditation,
I invite you into a comfortable position.
You may sit or lie down.
Let yourself arrive in this space,
Allowing your body to sink and be heavy.
You may want to gently close your eyes if this seems helpful,
Slowly bringing attention to your breath.
Begin to connect with this life-sustaining energy moving through you.
Now,
Begin to slow down your breath and move into an awareness of the four parts of breathing.
The moment of inhale,
The pause between the inhale and the exhale,
The moment of exhaling,
The pause between the exhale and the inhale.
Now,
Begin to bring your attention to the inhale,
Allowing your air intake to be slow and full.
As you repeat each breath cycle,
Note how that moment of breathing feels in your body.
All to mind the dawn as a time of awakening,
An experience of breathing in new life,
Experience spring blossoming in your body.
How are you invited to awaken today?
As you stay with this question,
Experience the fullness of your inhalation.
Now,
Bring your attention to the pause between your inhale and exhale.
Notice how this moment of breath feels in your body,
Experiencing the fullness of oxygen in your lungs.
With each breath cycle,
Pause at this moment and focus on the height of the day as a time of fullness.
Feel the experience of summer's heat and fruitfulness in your body.
How are you invited into the fullness of who you are today?
As you remain present to that question,
For a few moments continue to experience this sense of fullness.
Now bring your attention to your exhalation and allow it to be slow and full.
As you repeat each breath cycle,
Notice how that moment of breathing feels in your body.
Sink into the experience of surrender and release that exhaling invites.
With each exhalation,
Think of dusk as the time to let go,
An experience of releasing that which no longer serves you,
Of being confronted with your own mortality and the knowledge that one day you will release your final breath.
Feel the experience of autumn's vulnerability in your body.
What are you invited to release today?
As you stay present to that question,
Experience the surrender of your exhalation with each breath.
Finally,
Bring your attention to the moment between exhalation and inhalation and pause there for a moment with each breath.
Experience the emptiness of the moment when breath leaves your body and you await the next inhalation.
Allow yourself to rest in the moment of discomfort and uncertainty.
As you repeat each breath cycle,
Notice how that moment of breathing in feels in your body.
Call to mind the night as a time of darkness and unknowing,
A time of resting and waiting.
How are you invited to be still today?
As you stay present to that question,
Experience the moment between exhaling and inhaling.
Now return gently to your normal breathing pattern and notice how your body feels.
Take a few moments to be aware of the full cycle of your breath.
Allow all four parts to have a moment of pause and awareness.
Move through the seasons of spring,
Summer,
Autumn and winter with each breath.
Now return gently to your normal breathing pattern and notice how your body feels.
Now return gently to your normal breathing pattern and notice how your body feels.
